There is one common explanation that looks almost scientific.
Too hot food and too hot drink is not tasty and unhealthy. Due to the temperature, we are unable to distinguish the taste of the dish, and besides, we burn ourselves. Doctors say that the constant drinking of hot tea can lead to serious health problems: microburns cause chronic inflammation of the esophagus, which, in turn, increases the risk of cancer.
The easiest way to cool hot food quickly is to blow it. But, it turns out, there is an opinion that blowing on hot food is dangerous. The explanation is that the exhaled air contains carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. And food contains a lot of liquid. When carbon dioxide reacts with water, carboxylic acid is formed, which disrupts the acid-base balance of food, and then of the body. Changes in pH, according to some pharmaceutical experts, can cause serious illnesses such as asthma and diabetes.
It sounds kind of scientific. But not all experts agree with this.
“The only risk that exists when you blow on hot food is the risk of blowing too hard and splashing someone,” says Matan Shelomi, a biologist with a PhD in biological sciences. – All these stories about pH changes are complete nonsense, meaningless food myth. If it were true, then the water would turn into soda when you blow on it. “
True, experts still do not recommend blowing on a common dish – it is unhygienic. Nevertheless, microdroplets of saliva fly, bacteria are native to you, but disgusting to others. And you can blow on your spoon or cup as much as you like, this is not prohibited by either science or etiquette.
By the way, there is one more rule of table etiquette, which we constantly violate. It turns out that you can’t wish for a bon appetit! And why so – read HERE.